Year 9

Curriculum

Parents’ InformatIon

2016/17

What this booklet will tell you This booklet aims to give you an overview of what your child will be learning this year at Thomas Estley Community College. Information given here covers, for each curriculum area, the types of groups that students are taught in, assessment types and timings, and the main topics / skills covered. Many curriculum areas will be divided into terms so that you can see the order in which topics will be covered. Some areas operate on a rotating basis, so all topics will be covered, but not necessarily in the order listed. One feature of our Year Nine curriculum is an increase in GCSE work during the year in many subject areas. This includes both general GCSE type skill development and actual GCSE modules which they will continue to study next year. Formal Year Nine examinations take place in February, to provide accurate information for parents and ourselves to inform setting and options choices, and to provide practice in formal examinations ready for GCSE. The last section of the booklet will give you guidance about homework at the college, and how you can support your child to achieve their full potential in this area. What you can do to help Knowing what your child will be learning and revising at which point in the year can support you as you: Talk about their learning with them on a regular basis. Keep an eye out for any opportunities outside school which might help

them develop their interest or confidence in a particular topic. Encourage them and support them as they revise for assessments. Look over their homework or offer advice or guidance in where to go

for information, helping them meet deadlines and work to a high standard.

Information is correct at the time of going to press. Please contact the college in the usual way with any queries relating to your child’s learning and development.

Homework In Year 9 your child should spend around 40 - 60

minutes on each subject every week. If you are worried about the amount of time they are spending on their homework you need to ask your child to speak to their teacher, or you need to put a message in your child’s organiser.

Homework will not always be a written piece of work. For example, your child could be asked to make a model or learn vocabulary.

To help your child with homework tasks, the College Resources Area is open each lunchtime, as well as a computer suite and several classrooms. Staff are on hand to offer help if needed.

Your child’s homework should always be written in their organiser, so that you and they can both see what they need to do. Homework for each subject will often be set on the same night each week.

Your child needs to develop their organisational skills and work towards becoming an independent learner and enquirer. Steps towards this include them learning to:

Find out exactly what the work is before the due date. Organise notes and equipment for easy access at home. Find a quiet place to work without distractions. Set their own targets, e.g. between 5.00 p.m. and 5.45 p.m. I will … Allocate time to homework, hobbies, relaxation, etc. in advance. Work neatly and aim for quality over quantity. Ask their teacher for help if needed before the due date. Catch up on missed work. Talk to you about their homework. Ask you to sign their organiser each week. If no homework is set, choose their own useful task to do (e.g.

learning work covered in class, read, listen to current affairs programmes, summarise long pieces of writing, write a letter to an organisation, research an area of interest).

Please contact your child’s subject teacher with any queries about homework, either by calling the college or by e-mail. Staff contact names follow the format: jbloggs@thomasestley.org.uk.

Science Groups Focus Assessment

All topics will be covered by all students by the end of the Summer

Ability Sets Based on performance in Year 8 and other available data

LIFE - genetics LIFE - staying

alive Metals Movement and

Work Keeping Healthy -

GCSE module Light KS4 Biomimicry KS4 Cell Biology

End of topic tests Assessment activities within topics: written tasks, practical work and some homework. Year 9 Examination (Feb)

English Groups Focus Assessment

Autumn Ability Sets Poetry Analysis Story Analysis Crime Writing

Speaking and Listening Assessment Reading Assessment

Spring and Summer

Ability Sets GCSE Examination Preparation - Class Novel Much ado about Nothing Reading of GCSE texts in preparation for Year 10. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and An Inspector Calls

Writing, Reading and Formal GCSE Examinations in Reading and Writing, Speaking and Listening Assessments plus GCSE Marking

Art and Design Groups Focus Assessment

All topics will be covered by all students by the end of the Summer

Mixed Ability

‘Urban Art’ project: Drawing, painting,

mixed media and ICT skills

Interim Assessment during design development stages of each course

Peer Assessment End of Key Stage

level

Design and Technology Groups Focus Assessment

All topics will be covered by all students by the end of the Summer

Mixed Ability

Systems and Control: Boom Boxes Resistant Materials: Storage Box Textile Design: Baggy pants Food Preparation and Nutrition: Making Choices Diet and Health Special Diets

Interim Assessment during design development stages of each course

Peer Assessment End of Key Stage

Level

Geography Groups Focus Assessment

All topics will be covered by all students by the end of the Summer

Mixed Ability Rivers River Fieldwork (Weather Permitting)

Mixed Ability Coastal Features

Swanage Bay Brochure

Mixed Ability Coastal Defences

Impact of Coastal Defences Enquiry End of Unit Test

Mixed Ability Measuring Development

Problem Solving Task

Mixed Ability Brazil Case Study

Problem Solving - Impacts of development on Rural Areas in Brazil

Mixed Ability Slumming It Case Study

Report on Slums

Citizenship / Religious Education Groups Focus Assessment

Autumn Mixed Crime and Society One assessed task a term, focussed on religious education framework, citizenship and personal, learning and thinking skills.

Spring Mixed Wealth and Poverty

Summer Mixed Religion and Relationships

P.E. Groups Focus Assessment

Mixed Ability

Gymnastics (All) Volleyball (All) Cross Country (All) Table Tennis (All) Netball (Girls Only) Football (All) Basketball (All) Football (Girls Only) Athletics (All) Rugby (Boys Only) Striking and Fielding (All) Tennis (All) Outdoor/Adventurous Activities (All) Options (All)

All sports are assessed during and at the end of their modules.

Over the year, all students will study:

Computing Focus Assessment

Computing involves the science of computers. We look at building on the skills and knowledge developed in Year 7 and 8, covering the six strands of computing. Each unit of work taking around six weeks: Algorithms and Computational Thinking Programming (using Scratch) Hardware and Software Data and Data Representation Communication and Networks IT Skills* Those students in the Computing Specialism will cover these in far greater depths and begin to cover GCSE standard work. * IT Skills (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc) are also taught in other subjects throughout the year.

Ongoing assessment of work at the end of each unit

Modules Subject Focus

October or July

Choices - Money and Health

Taxation and budgeting Good financial planning Sexual health Avoiding substances abuse Keeping my body healthy

October or July

Citizen of Britain and Leicester

What is Britishness? History of Leicester Food in Leicester Valuing other cultures Day visit to Mosque, Temple and

Church

Drama Groups Focus Assessment

Autumn Mixed Ability Creating work from various stimuli

Documentary Theatre

Formal level awarded at

half term and Christmas

Self/Peer/Teacher assessments given during lessons

Spring Mixed Ability Silent Film/ Mime/ Physical Theatre

Modern Scripts

Formal level awarded at Easter

Self/Peer Teacher assessments given during lessons

Summer Mixed Ability The Elephant Man / Prejudice (Brecht)

7 Ages of Man / Students’ Personal Progression Y7-9

Formal level awarded at the end of the year

Self/Peer/Teacher assessments given during lessons

History Groups Focus Assessment

Autumn Mixed Sets Twentieth Century World World War 1 (inc Suffragettes)

Somme Haig Evaluation Sources, Interpretation

Mixed Sets Twentieth Century World World War 2

The Blitz - Evaluation Sources, Interpretation February Exam

Spring

Mixed Sets Twentieth Century World World War 2 and Cold War

Atom Bomb - Explanation and Analysis, Interpretation

Summer

Mathematics Groups Focus Assessment

Autumn Ability Sets Topic Tests Assessment Activities

During each term we cover topics from each of the four strands: Number Algebra Geometry and

Measures Statistics

Spring Ability Sets Mid-Year Examinations Assessment Activities

Summer Ability Sets Revision GCSE work for the Upper School

GCSE Questions Upper school transfer examination

Parents can access Mymaths.co.uk along with students to track homework and revision.

A scientific calculator and geometric equipment are required equipment from day one.

Lunchtime help is available every day in the Maths Department. Students will also receive individualised “Weekly Skills” homework

personal to them.

MFL Students will study French for two lessons per week and Spanish for one lesson per week

Groups Focus Assessment

Autumn Ability Sets French: My Health Spanish: The world of work

Students will be assessed in French three times throughout the year

Spring Ability Sets French: The World of Work Spanish: Holidays

Summer Ability Sets French: My Holidays Spanish: Food and health

Specialisms Afternoon Groups Specialisms Assessment

Mixed Ability

Arts Award

Computing/Programming

Dance

Enterprise Challenge

Language Leaders

Maths in Action

Musical Performance

Sports Education

Team Challenge

Self, peer and teacher assessment in personal, learning and thinking skill development over the year

Your child will study one specialism from the list in this table.

The national curriculum focuses on developing learners who will thrive in the C21st world of life and work. Year Nine Specialisms afternoon

targets the development of these skills in particular. These skills include the areas pictured below as well as a focus on developing

resilience and character.

Creative thinkers

Reflective learners

Self managers Independent enquirers

Effective Participators

Team Workers